Seasonal Living

I get tired of hearing that old cliché “you’re just going through a season of life.” That’s not what I’m referring to here. I’m talking about actual seasons, not slightly vague and very trite advice.

I find something grounding in incorporating seasonal elements into life, especially since I started college and my stress level exponentially increased. These small changes and traditions add variety to life while giving you regular routines to look forward to. All of us have seasons we like better than others, so embracing the positive aspects of each can help us find enjoyment even in the ones we don’t love.

Decor

Decorating is a good place to start, however, I think it has gotten out of hand in modern life. Everyone seems to be caught in a loop of consumption, trends, and buy, buy, buy. Unfortunately, the economic strain of recent years has led to a severe dip in quality to prop up that lifestyle. Seasonal décor seems to be one of the biggest victims of this problem. There’s more than ever to choose from, but it looks flimsy and fake. It won’t be in peak condition for long, and peak condition isn’t that great to begin with.

Luckily, seasonal décor can be cheap and easy without having to resort to Walmart clearance. Except for Christmas when I go a little overboard, I keep my seasonal décor changes understated. Rather than going for a kitschy and glittery item that practically screams “Valentines!” or “Easter!” I look for good-quality items that have just a hint of the season.

How do you find these nice, tried-and-true items without breaking the bank? Thrift stores! You can find tons of treasures for just a few dollars each, and you can re-donate them after a few years if you want something new. It’s a great way to slow down our shopping cycles and even make a positive impact if your local thrift shop supports a charity.

For most seasons and holidays, you only need a bold statement in one place, if anywhere. The rest can be subtle. Here are great ways to start:

• Throw pillows. Changing out just one decorative pillow on your bed or couch is an easy way to enjoy a change that nods to the new season. If you’re crafty, sew, crochet, or knit your own for an extra-special twist.
• Wall art. Add a frame or two to your house and change out what you display. Photo frames are inexpensive and make swapping contents easy. You can display seasonal photos or art, and this is another great option for DIY-ers. It’s also great for a small space as all you have to store are various paper pieces.
• Florals. There are a lot of decent fake flowers available these days. I have a lot of vintage vases and I like switching out what’s in them seasonally. Evergreens and pinecones for Christmas and winter, flowers for spring and summer, and colorful leaves for fall. This is another storage plus as the larger objects – the containers – stay out all year round.
• Outdoors. Do you work outside of the home or spend a lot of time coming and going? Then don’t forget to change up the outdoor items that greet you at your door.
• Speaking of doors, don’t overlook door knobs when you want easy décor. Outside of my bedroom is a hall closet and water heater closet that are rarely opened. I usually have something seasonal hanging from the knobs on these doors, and I see it every day when I leave my room.

Food

You may not think about seasonal food apart from Thanksgiving or Christmas, but there are ways to change up your menu for any season.

In the cooler seasons, we crave soup, chili, and other warm comfort foods. Hot drinks with warming flavors are a must-have. While I drink hot tea and coffee all year round, I love it most in fall and winter. For tea, spicy flavors are good in both fall and winter. For coffee, cinnamon is good for fall while minty and chocolatey notes are perfect for Christmas and winter.

As spring and summer begin, find out what fruits are in season in your area and keep them on hand for a sweet, juicy snack. On hot days, a salad or cold sandwich makes a great light lunch. Of course, iced drinks are essential in warm weather. Whether it’s fruit juice or iced tea, something cool to sip in the shade will always hit the spot.

I think the simplest way to embrace the seasons in food is through desserts. It’s easy to find simple recipes that use seasonal ingredients or fit certain themes. Desserts and snacks are great ways to experiment or change things up without having to overhaul your whole menu.

Music

A final way to embrace simple changes each season is by assigning each a music genre. I have a very wide variety of musical tastes, so I listen to many genres year round, but some seem to be even better when they fit the season. For example, I love Bossa Nova (a Brazilian jazz style) and think it embodies a laidback summer. What a genre makes you think of is subjective, so have fun designing seasonal playlists that mean something to you.

However you choose to incorporate the changing seasons into your life, I think you’ll find it rewarding. Life is full of change and uncertainty, so creating routines we can vary but still control is comforting.